Creativity Is My Problem-Solving Superpower (And It Can Be Yours Too)

The creative process for problem solving is my jam.

It’s more than just a skill—it’s a language, a mental toolbox, and a way of being. And the beauty of it? It doesn’t matter where you’re coming from—your title, your age, or your background. Whether it’s corporate clients, curious kids, or my 20-year-old students in Madagascar, we’re all navigating the same human complexities. And we all benefit from more tools to move through them.

For me, this journey started close to home—literally. Family conversations were the catalyst. I didn’t want to “win” arguments. I wanted dialogue that moved things forward. I wanted to parent and partner in a way that felt good for everyone. I wanted outcomes that were uplifting and left us better off than where we started.

But my old subconscious patterns? They weren’t serving me—or my family. Therapy helped, yes. But I craved something deeper. Not just a trick here or a tip there. I was looking for a new way of functioning. That’s what led me to creativity.

I didn’t start out thinking, “I’m going to study creative problem solving.” I just wanted to handle life at home more gracefully. Fast forward through two degrees and seven years, and I found myself with a real sense of mastery over the creative process.

Here’s what I’ve learned: creativity isn’t just for artists or innovators. It’s for everyone. It’s a teachable mindset, a set of tools, a language anyone can learn. Yes, it might sound cliché—but it’s true.

Old me used to solve problems reactively (and maybe with a little too much belligerence). Now, problem solving feels more like a puzzle I get to work on—an intellectual adventure rather than a stressful spiral.

One of my favorite quotes is from J.P. Guilford:
“To live is to have problems, and to solve problems is to grow intellectually.”

Becoming more creative has changed the quality of every single interaction I have—at work, at home, in life.

So here's the good news I want to share:
Everyone is born creative.
Yes, it’s often taught out of us.
But the even better news?
It can be learned again.